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Startup Grind is a global startup community designed to educate, inspire, and connect entrepreneurs. It is powered by Google for Entrepreneurs. We host monthly events in 250 cities and 100 countries featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators and investors who share personal stories and lessons learned on the road to building great companies.

Startup Grind is a connected online and offline network of vibrant startup communities to help fuel innovation, economic growth and prosperity at the local level. While Startup Grind was founded in Palo Alto, California, our extended network of Startup Grind chapters are located around the world. Start a Chapter in your city or school!

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We believe in making friends, not contacts. We believe in giving, not taking. We believe in helping others before helping yourself. We are truly passionate about helping founders, entrepreneurs and startups succeed. We intend to make their startup journey less lonely, more connected and more memorable.

500 Startups Batch 19 Demo Day

The theme for 500 Startups Batch 19 Demo Day was Valentine’s Day (although it technically took place on February 15) and accordingly Founder, Dave McClure, kicked it off dressed as the Queen of Hearts.

Batch 19 had 44 companies who participated in two tracks, B2B and Fashion and Beauty.

I’m always impressed with the diversity of 500’s startups.

Almost half of the startups are international and over half the founders are woman and minorities. I wish I had the time to write about each startup but alas, I only have time to mention my personal favorites. So, in no particular order…

Park Evergreen

The startup that I would personally invest in is Park Evergreen. They have developed a parking management software that makes it easy to find and pay for parking.

Oddly enough, on my drive to Demo Day, I was listening to a Freakonomics podcast called Parking is Hell which describes the high cost of parking. It made me think of the times when parking is a challenge and how much I would pay to not have to drive in circles to find parking.

Park Evergreen platform allows a driver to pay and reserve a parking space. In my mind, if it solves this "circuit circle drive" problem effectively, it will be a unicorn.

06

O6 makes a little widget that can be mounted on the steering wheel. In conjunction with their companion app, you can navigate through your iPhone while you’re driving without taking your hands off the steering wheel and it allows you to keep y our eyes on the road. Interestingly enough, as I was getting a demo of the product, Silicon Valley icon, Tim Draper, was waiting in line behind me wanting to buy one. (I started to wonder if he was actually was interested in investing in them, also.)

Claim Compass

ClaimCompass had a declaration of free money which really caught my attention. If your flight gets delayed or canceled, their platform will automatically check if you are eligible for compensation and if you are, they will make a claim on your behalf. They can get you compensated up to $650 and take a 25% commission if they are successful. I’ve bookmarked their site just in case I have to go to battle with an airline in the future.

Paw Print

PawPrint allows you to move and maintain your pet records on their platform. If you have a pet, you know what a hassle it is to manage their shot records. Mental note: sign Ruby (she’s our dog) up.

Gym Hit

Shameless Plug for the Sacramento Region

This is a shameless plug for Sacramento-based startup, GymHit. GymHit has developed a business management software for the fitness industry. (I also gave them a warm referral to 500 Startups.)

Sickweather

Clever Use of Social Media Data

Sickweather has developed an innovative method to track the spread of disease using social media. You can track the spread of illness on a map like a meteorologist tracks weather. The data they’ve gleamed has outperformed data provided by the CDC.

Kompyte

That’s Original

This is an original idea I haven’t seen before. Kompyte has developed a platform that allows their users to automatically track and analyze their competitors. At my last company, we had a full-time employee that performed this function. I can see this platform being extremely useful for any company that actively tracks their competitors.

Join Batch 21

How well the Batch 19 companies do remains to be seen, but 500 Startups does have an excellent track record. Producing three unicorn startups (with a fourth, possibly on the way). 37 Centaurs, (valued $100-999 M), and over 300 Ponies ($10-99 M).

You might be wondering how to get into 500 Startups.

Well, first you've got to apply!

If I piqued your interest in 500 Startups, they are currently looking for applicants for Batch 21.

A good candidate should have:

• Balanced Team

• Product Launched

• Traction with Good Metrics​

If your startup is interested in applying for Batch 21, find the application here.

After applying, be sure to ask your local Startup Grind director for a warm referral!